Small-Scale Research

Pragmatic Inquiry in Social Science and the Caring Professions
First Edition
Peter T Knight - Lancaster University, UK
Small-Scale Research
March 2002 | 224 pages | Sage UK
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Description

The author takes the student through the whole of the research process including anticipating common mistakes and `times of trouble' and offering advice on how to make things easier on yourself. The methods work is sound and the methodology is put across very well and nicely integrated with the `thinking out' of the research … Rigorous, accessible, upbeat - I would expect this to become a widely used resource for students and lone researchers at all levels' - Roger Sapsford, School of Social Sciences, University of Teeside

Timely, assured and written with the needs of students uppermost, Small-Scale Research is a direct, comprehensive guide for students doing theses, dissertations, papers and projects. It systematically works through the central methods of inquiry and demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. The advice on when and how to use small-scale methods is pragmatic, recognizing that small-scale researchers are usually short on time and resources. Yet behind this pragmatism is the principle that research is, above all, about thinking. Whatever needs to be done in a research project has to be for the purpose of providing research audiences with the best possible answers, in the circumstances, to the research questions. The book argues that it is not enough to apply research methods. Sense-making and claims-making are central to good research practice.

Contents

Starting with Writing

Starting with Writing

Research as Claimsmaking

Research as Claimsmaking

Face-to-Face Inquiry Methods

Face-to-Face Inquiry Methods

Research at a Distance

Research at a Distance

Research Design

  • Bringing It All Together

Complexity

Complexity

Doing It

Doing It

Sensemaking

Sensemaking

Writing, Disseminating and Influencing

Writing, Disseminating and Influencing

Reflecting

Reflecting

Description

The author takes the student through the whole of the research process including anticipating common mistakes and `times of trouble' and offering advice on how to make things easier on yourself. The methods work is sound and the methodology is put across very well and nicely integrated with the `thinking out' of the research … Rigorous, accessible, upbeat - I would expect this to become a widely used resource for students and lone researchers at all levels' - Roger Sapsford, School of Social Sciences, University of Teeside

Timely, assured and written with the needs of students uppermost, Small-Scale Research is a direct, comprehensive guide for students doing theses, dissertations, papers and projects. It systematically works through the central methods of inquiry and demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. The advice on when and how to use small-scale methods is pragmatic, recognizing that small-scale researchers are usually short on time and resources. Yet behind this pragmatism is the principle that research is, above all, about thinking. Whatever needs to be done in a research project has to be for the purpose of providing research audiences with the best possible answers, in the circumstances, to the research questions. The book argues that it is not enough to apply research methods. Sense-making and claims-making are central to good research practice.

Contents

Starting with Writing

Starting with Writing

Research as Claimsmaking

Research as Claimsmaking

Face-to-Face Inquiry Methods

Face-to-Face Inquiry Methods

Research at a Distance

Research at a Distance

Research Design

  • Bringing It All Together

Complexity

Complexity

Doing It

Doing It

Sensemaking

Sensemaking

Writing, Disseminating and Influencing

Writing, Disseminating and Influencing

Reflecting

Reflecting

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Small-Scale Research

Pragmatic Inquiry in Social Science and the Caring Professions

Peter T Knight
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March 2002 | 224 pages | Sage UK

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The author takes the student through the whole of the research process including anticipating common mistakes and `times of trouble' and offering advice on how to make things easier on yourself. The methods work is sound and the methodology is put across very well and nicely integrated with the `thinking out' of the research … Rigorous, accessible, upbeat - I would expect this to become a widely used resource for students and lone researchers at all levels' - Roger Sapsford, School of Social Sciences, University of Teeside

Timely, assured and written with the needs of students uppermost, Small-Scale Research is a direct, comprehensive guide for students doing theses, dissertations, papers and projects. It systematically works through the central methods of inquiry and demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. The advice on when and how to use small-scale methods is pragmatic, recognizing that small-scale researchers are usually short on time and resources. Yet behind this pragmatism is the principle that research is, above all, about thinking. Whatever needs to be done in a research project has to be for the purpose of providing research audiences with the best possible answers, in the circumstances, to the research questions. The book argues that it is not enough to apply research methods. Sense-making and claims-making are central to good research practice.


Table Of Contents:

  • Starting with Writing
  • Research as Claimsmaking
  • Face-to-Face Inquiry Methods
  • Research at a Distance
  • Research Design
  • Bringing It All Together
  • Complexity
  • Doing It
  • Sensemaking
  • Writing, Disseminating and Influencing
  • Reflecting

Recent Product Reviews:

Helpful as supplemental reading
Dr Elaine Cox, Westminster Institute of Education, Oxford Brookes University
A good book for our student health visitors as they engage in a literature review.
Mrs Penny Farrelly, Faculty of Society and Health, Bucks New University
Whilst this book focuses on the Caring professions it provides useful and relevant information for any student undertaking small scale research. The examples provide can be transferred to most social science reports.
Mrs Anita McGowan, Humanities , Croydon College
A useful additional book at L2 to introduce students into social researchl L3 styudents can use if for critiquing research in the areas covered
Mr JOHN BILHAM, ALLIED HEALTH, Canterbury Christ Church University

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